Montana FOI Resources
Quick Information | FOI Hotline | Contacts | Form Letters | Publications
Montana Freedom of Information Hotline, Inc.
(A member of NFOIC)
Journalism School
University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812
Contact: Ian Marquand, Chairman
Phone 406.529.6494
Email marquand.im@gmail.com
Montana FOI Resources
Participating members: The Associated Press, Montana Newspaper Association, Montana Broadcasters Association, SPJ Montana Pro Chapter, The University of Montana School of Journalism
QUICK FOI INFORMATION
Open Meetings Law Montana Code 2-3-201 et seq.
Closed: Matters involving individual privacy and litigation between government entities and private parties. Citizens may file suit to overturn decisions made in allegedly illegal meetings. However, in 2006, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that citizens who challenge a decision must prove that it caused them "actual harm" over and above that of an ordinary taxpaper or citizen.
Open Records Law Montana Code 2-6-101 et seq.
The law gives citizens the right to inspect any "public writings" of the state except as prohibited by statute. Recent legislation removed several exemptions to the law, thus opening records, including death certificates.
Exempt: Records may be closed if the right to individual privacy clearly exceeds the public's right to know. However, the Montana Supreme Court has upheld challenges to statutes or executive branch decisions that closed records, ruling that the constitutional public right to know outweighed the individual privacy interest.
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
FOI HOTLINE
Montana Freedom of Information Hotline, Inc.
(406) 529-6494
Contact: Ian Marquand, Chairman
Email: marquand.im@gmail.com
CONTACTS
Office of the Attorney General
Justice Building
215 North Sanders, Third Floor
Helena, MT 59620-1401
Phone (406) 444-2026
Fax (406) 444-3549
http://doj.mt.gov/
Email contactdoj@mt.gov
State Bar of Montana
7 W. 6th Ave., Ste. 2B
P.O. Box 577
Helena, MT 59624
Phone (406) 442-7660
Fax (406) 442-7763
http://www.montanabar.org/
mailbox@montanabar.org
Montana Newspaper Association
825 Great Northern Blvd.
Helena, Montana 59601
Phone (406) 443-2850 (800) 325-8276 (in Montana); Fax (406) 443-2860
http://www.mtnewspapers.com/
State Sunshine Chair
Ian Marquand
PAX-TV
4 Katsota CT
Missoula, MT 59806
Phone (406) 542-4449
marquand.im@gmail.com
FORM LETTERS
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1100
Arlington, Virginia 22209
Phone (800) 336-4243 or (703) 807-2100
Email rcfp@rcfp.org
FOIA Letter Generator
Student Press Law Center
1101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1100
Arlington, Virginia 22209
Phone (703) 807-1904
Email splc@splc.org
Request Letter Generator
PUBLICATIONS
Access in Montana Frequently Asked Questions: A Guide for Journalists and Citizens was prepared by the University of Montana School of Journalism, edited by Clem P. Work, 2005, 16 p.
This brochure explains the basic laws pertaining to access to public records, the courts and open meetings in Montana.
Format: Brochure 4 in. by 9 in.
Order from:
Ian Marquand
PAX-TV
4 Katsota CT
Missoula, MT 59806
Phone (406) 542-4449
ian@kpax.com
Freedom of Information in Montana Format: Video $10.00
Order from:
Ian Marquand
PAX-TV
4 Katsota CT
Missoula, MT 59806
Phone (406) 542-4449
ian@kpax.com
Open Government Guide from the
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press